From one of the best musicals ever put on the Great White Way comes the music from the original cast in London-- the ’’dream cast.’’
Every song and piece of music on this CD is beautiful. The instrumental music is so powerful that the entire story could be told through the music- with no lyrics at all. It is that touching.
However, with the lyrics added, the music becomes that much more stunningly powerful. The lyrics are simply beautiful! They tell you exactly what was probably going through the minds of people in the REAL Saigon during the war. For example, the main character, Kim, is a new Vietnamese bar girl (prostitute). At the beginning of the story, she is just starting her first night in the bar. She sings a song called ’’The Movie in My Mind, ’’ which explains her feelings about her new profession. She sings ’’I will not cry, I will not think. I’ll do my dance, I’ll make them drink. When I make love it won’t be me. And if they hurt me I’ll just close my eyes and see. The movie in my mind, the dream that fills my head. A man who will not kill, who’ll fight for me instead. He’ll keep us safe all day so no-one comes at night to blow the dream away. Dream... the dream I have to find, the movie in my mind.’’ This song sets the stage for what type of person Kim is.. she is a little girl (age 16) who has lost her parents to the war and is now struggling to find a way to support herself. She is embarrassed by her new profession and does not want to do it, but sees no choice...
The artists who were in this cast are phenomenally talented. Their voices are so beautiful that it is almost soothing to listen to them sing on this CD. Although the subject matter is not soothing at all (the Vietnam War), the songs are sung with such gorgeous voices that it becomes soothing.
The music on this soundtrack teaches you about the humanistic side of the Vietnam War. Through beautiful music, it discusses ’’Bui-Doi’’ (Eurasian children who have a Vietnamese mother and American soldier father), the HUGE business of prostitution during the war, relationships forming between the Vietnamese and Americans, the relationships subsequently falling apart when the American left Vietnam, the destruction to villages, and many other crucial parts of the war. Listening to the music, however, you would never guess that you were learning a lesson. But, you come away a better person... knowing what all those people went through. Heartbreak. Love. Hate. Confusion. Loss. Even with all the loss in the musical, the listeners GAIN something very important- a grasp on the human side of the war.
I recommend this musical to anyone- young or old, male or female, black or white. I think everyone could benefit from some beautiful music!